How they come to put on so much weight in Dubai is a paradox that confuses many new expats here. You move to the UAE expecting that, what with the hot weather and an active, outdoor lifestyle, you’ll lose weight. But, before you even celebrate your first “expativersary”, you realise that – like everyone else – you’ve got an extra 10kg stashed under your belt.

It’s called the “Dubai stone” and it’s so common it’s become a bit of a joke – a right of UAE expat passage, so to speak. Many people feel that it’s so inevitable that they don’t even bother fighting it – and the excessive drinking, the lavish brunches and the lazy expat lifestyles don’t do much to help.